Someone tell me I've done the right thing ?

[Anne Charlotte]

As you may have noticed, there's been a major upheaval in the A-C household over the past few days.......

My wife and I have decided that unless I change jobs I'm going to have a heart attack or stroke from the stress. So, we've decided that the only way forward is for me to work for myself.

Apart from the odd few doubts, I've really caught-on to this idea......because it means that I'll have whole days to spend in the home-office, doing the paperwork and computer-work. And yup, those days could (and probably would) be spent in suitable 'office' attire.

The risks are enormous compared to what I'm used to as I've been an employee all my working life. Everyone I've spoken to in the 'real' world thinks it's a sure success, but they don't know about Anne, and even my wife doesn't realise how much the opportunity to dress more freely has contributed to the decision.

Have I just left my £34k-per-year job, just so I can be en femme more often? That's what I'm not certain.

Anyone else out there doing this ? I'd love to know if it can be made to work ?

[DonnaT]

Good luck Anne. Just remember that work will need to come first. But if dressing causes the work to not get done, then you'll know you made a mistake. It all depends on your self discipline.

[Carla_CD]

Anne - I've been on my own for 6 years now, I feel everone should be self employed!!!!

I find I am more focused when carla is around and get more done.... he he.


To Risk

To Laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out for others is to risk involvement.
To express one's feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas in front of others is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk despair.
To try is to failing.

But risks MUST be taken.

The greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing.
These people may avoid suffering and sorrow; but,
They will never learn, feel, change, grow, love, or live.
Chained by their attitudes, they are slaves.
They have forfeited their freedom.
Only the person who risks is truly free.

[Carla_CD]

Hit the damn enter button to quick....

Meant to add

Author Unknown


And pay no attention to the red post Icon....



Carla

[Julie York]

Self employment is stressful, but it is a different sort of stress. If you are able to actually make a living then you will be happier than you ever felt possible after being in a job that makes you feel sick with anxiety.

It's the difference between walking up a huge mountain because you want to....and someone making you do it whilst shouting at you.

Same result....COMPLETELY different effect on your life.
If, at the same time you get to dress more, then that's even better for you.

Good luck.

[Wendy me]

better yet retire as soon as you can...........

[FionaAlexis]

Anne,

Well I did that just over 10 years ago after my second 'cultural change' in the corporate world. I now work from a home based office and connect with clients mostly by telephone, internet and fax.

The first year was a financial struggle but since then it has gone well. I guess the main changes are that work time, personal time and family time become much less structured so it needs a bit of discipline to keep them separate. Also you can become isolated and out of touch - so you need to develop new networks.

I do work dressed quite a bit and I regularly do a lot of my routine stuff - banking, mailing, stationery buys etc. en femme. It has worked well for me and I doubt I could work in the corporate environment now - certainly that's what my partner tells me. I have it too good she says - not sure that's true but I like it.

Fiona xx

[Sophia Rearen]

Annie C,
I am self employed. Have been most of my life. Just this week I spent the night in the office enfemme. Make sure the work comes first. And oh will there be work. The self employed are always working. I found being dressed in office wear was so rewarding. Not only was I producing, I was truly enjoying what I was doing. If I have to stay up until 1:00 am I can't think of another better way to do it. Now if I could just become my wifes office girl. ;)

[Emily15]

[QUOTE=Julie York]

It's the difference between walking up a huge mountain because you want to....and someone making you do it whilst shouting at you.

Same result....COMPLETELY different effect on your life.

[Emily15]

How true!!! I agree with Julie, i really do! You know, that makes a lot of sense.
not sure if i done this quote thing right, but hey its posted now!!!! Em

[Olesha]

As you may have noticed, there's been a major upheaval in the A-C household over the past few days.......

My wife and I have decided that unless I change jobs I'm going to have a heart attack or stroke from the stress. So, we've decided that the only way forward is for me to work for myself.

Apart from the odd few doubts, I've really caught-on to this idea......because it means that I'll have whole days to spend in the home-office, doing the paperwork and computer-work. And yup, those days could (and probably would) be spent in suitable 'office' attire.

The risks are enormous compared to what I'm used to as I've been an employee all my working life. Everyone I've spoken to in the 'real' world thinks it's a sure success, but they don't know about Anne, and even my wife doesn't realise how much the opportunity to dress more freely has contributed to the decision.

Have I just left my £34k-per-year job, just so I can be en femme more often? That's what I'm not certain.

Anyone else out there doing this ? I'd love to know if it can be made to work ?

Anne Charlotte

Go for it girl. I was made redundant from a £40K job two years ago and tried and failed. I did learn I'm not a saleswoman. At that time my urge to dress was in its infancy ( knickers and stockings only ) and the thought of being en femme had not entered my head. The idea of trying again sounds very attractive so if you've got a good idea that can be developed in W Yorks let me know. Hence, for me, it had nothing to do with dressing. I doubt it has for you. That's probably the difference. I was forced into it and you've chosen it. Wearing skirts all day would just be a bonus. All the best
Love and kisses
Olesha

[susiej]

Anne-Charlotte,

I have also been self-employed a lot in my career, and take it from me, it's not always a lower-stress situation. But, if your stress is coming not from the details of the work itself, but from supervisors, co-workers, commuting, and so on, going on your own can be a huge improvement.

Do consider other alternatives. If your current job is not to your liking, you can always get another one.

That is, you should consider self-employment not because your current job is not working out, but because the idea of working for yourself is appealing. As others have said, working for yourself often means you have a slave-driver as a boss :).

One other caution: although you'll get to, um, dress as you choose if you work out of your home, being self-employed means giving up the social setting of the office. If your current job is in an office with a crowd of people, make sure you can imagine yourself giving up the social aspects of this -- jokes at the water cooler, lunch in the cafeteria or the fish-and-chips joint around the corner, that sort of thing.

All this said, I much prefer self-employment, and would do it again in a heartbeat!

Hugs,
Susie

[Julie]

Anne,

I've been through slow times in construction and while laid off I'd occasionally use that opportunity to dress during the day. But for the most part I talked myself out of it because of all the time it took to get dressed and then thinking I'd have to change back and remove ALL signs I was dressed (wife knew, kids didn't). It just didn't seem worth it. I reasoned I could use that time more productively.

I don't know how much time you'll have alone but I'll bet once the novelty wears off you will end up doing what I did.

[Anne Charlotte]

Well, there's no going back now, dressed or not......

Thanks for all the comments, I'm sure it will be hard, but when you have to work over 70 hours a week just to get things done, you may just as well get all the returns for yourself, and not give them to the boss.

I am a slave-driver myself, so maybe I'll enjoy it all the more.

There is virtually no 'social' side to my job, as I am a site manager on construction site. Everyone hates you.....the client thinks you're robbing him, the boss want more money, the blokes hate you cos they gotta work in the rain, the suppliers hate you cos you've screwed them on the price........it just goes on and on.....

Looking forward to it now !